Tokens into the midst of Egypt upon Pharoah and upon all his Servants Why did he smite great Nations and slay mighty Kings Sion King of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan and all the Kings of Canaan Psal 135.8 9 10 11. Was it not because he had chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure ver 4. And again I gave Egypt for thy ransom Ethiopia and Sheba for thee Since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee therefore I will give men for thee and people for thy life Isa 43.3 4. God in his Love thinks nothing too good nothing too great to be done for his Church and People He not only gives famous Kings and potent Nations up to ruine for his Peoples temporal deliverance but in the stupendiousness of his Love hath given his Son for their eternal Salvation John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life and in and by him hath made a full compleat and abundant provision all things needful for your Salvation He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 The faithful apprehension and application of this Love will steel you against all sufferings and make you Reproach-proof and Persecution-proof that you shall not be ashamed of a despised Gospel a reproached Religion and a persecuted Christ and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts Rom. 5.5 This Love will comfort you against all temptations concerning sin in doubtings concerning Gods presence perseverance in Faith and assurance of Salvation I am perswaded saith the Apostle that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jâ—sus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. To these add the dearness strength constancy and inviolableness of God's Lewe unto his Children dearer than a mothers to her swâ—â—etest babe Isa 49.15 stronger than the mountains Isa 54.19 more constant than the courses of Heaven Jâ—r 31.35 36. 33.20 21. it is as sure as God him self is sure Psal 89.34 35. And for a People to be committed to such a Love is ground of security and comfort When Ministers are taken from you this will â—bide with you 2. To commit you to God is to commit you to the tenderest mercy Mercy is the best refuge to the miserable Whither shall the malefactor flee for pardon but to the mercy of his Prince whither shall the captive go for safety but to the mercy of his Conqueror The pity of an armed Conqueror is better safety than the flinty-heartednes of a naked captive Compassion unarms the Armed blunts sharpened swords enfeebles the strong and sinewy arms when an astorgy arms the unarmed sharpens the sword addes strength to weak arms and blocks up all wayes and means of securiâ—y and comfort A man's pity subdues him when the valour policy strength and weapons of his enemies cannot conquer him and makes him a security to his adversary This encouraged Benhadad to humble himself to Ahab whom and his Kingdom he had twice before attempted to destroy by two formidable Armies Behold we have heard that the Kings of Israel are merciful Kings let us we pray thee put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads and go out to the King of Israel peradventure he will save thy life and it was so 1 Kings 20.31 c. And shall the Kings of Israel have mercy to save their enemies and shall not the KING of the Kings of Israel have mercy on his Children Mercy makes the tender heart partaker of the misery of him that is distressed Misericordia quasi miseria cordi it translates the misery of another into the heart of the merciful and enclines them to relieve and succour them It is pity that makes you to bind up the wounds of the wounded to wash Lazarus his sores to cloath the naked to feed the hungry to refresh the thirsty Now the God to whom I leave you is the God of pity and Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 all the pity and compassion in the creatures is derived from him and were it all contracted into one yet it were but a drop to his Ocean and as the mercifulness of tender Parents causeth them to pitty their sick Children so God like a tender Father pitties them that fear him Psal 103.10 yea he sympathizeth with them in all their sufferings accounting their sufferings his Are they reproached so is he are they persecuted so is he are they imprisoned banished tormented put to cruel deaths he accounts it as done to himself and whatsoever Satan doth to you in tempting you to sin to dispair in buffeting you filling your hearts with heaviness your mouths with sighs and complaints your eyes with showers of tears he takes it as done to himself In all their afflictions he was afflicted Isa 63.9 And as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we from our own suffering learn more to pitty others in the like distresse so Christ's experiences of the worlds hatred and persecution of Satans rage and temptation doth cause Christ to pitty his suffering Members more We have not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all things tempted as we are yet without sin and in that himself suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 4.15 chap. 2.18 Here is a rise of Compassion according to the degree of suffering How do the screechings of a sick Child the deep sighs and groans of a sick tormented Child make the bowels of the Parents roul within them and melt their affections into tears The Harlot whose the living Child was could not endure to suffer and see her Babe to be cut asunder but denied and acquitted her interest in him because her bowels yearned towards him 1 Kings 3.26 God's Pitty to his People is the most intensive when their Afflictions are the most increased His soul was grieved for the Misery of his People Israel Judg. 10.16 It grieves God to see his lie laden with Iron-fetters to lye in long and loathsome Imprisonments under cruel Tortures and Tormenting Deaths When you are buffeted with Satan bewailing your sins and miseries God's Bowels of Compassion are moved towards you Jer. 31.18 19 20. Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised c. After I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Thus Ephraim bemoaned himself and God heard him and marked his expressions weighed the sorrow and burden of his spirit and pittieth him Is Ephraim my dear
be commanded 2. It is to love him more than all other things to love him with a transcendant love John 21.15 Lovest thou me more than these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more than these Nets Gain Profits Pleasures Credit or Life it self or more than these persons thy fellow Disciples Luke 14.26 If any man come after me and hate not his father and mother wife and children brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my Disciple So Mat. 4.20 22. The Disciples left their Father Nets Ships they forsook all to follow Christ Abraham forsook his Country and his Father's house in obedience to God's Call Acts 19.19 Those Converts forsook their Gain and their gainful Trades for Christ and the Gospel 3. It is to love whole Christ Christ in all his Offices to love him as our Prophet to submit to his instruction Acts 3.23 every soul that will not hear that Prophot shall be destroyed from amongst the People It is to love him as our King to submit to his Goverment to be ruled by his Laws to live according to his Gospel to suffer no other Lord besides him to have Dominion over us Luke 19.27 Those mine enemies which would not that I should Reign over them c. It is to love him as our Sanctification to be as willing to save 〈◊〉 from our sins as from Hell 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is made of God to us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification c. 4. To love him for himself and not only for his benefits This is love of complacency love of delight when we love Christ as the Apostles and the good Women who loved him in disgrace in his poverty that ministred to him of their substance Luke 8.3 who followed him naked stripped condemned hanging on the Cross Luke 22.33 Lord I am ready to go with thee into prison to death That is Amor concupiscentiae Love of our selves when we love him only foâ— gaine for what he brings along with him as the People John 6.26 who followed him for the loaves who would needs have made him King when he fed so many thousands with a few loavs they thought him a fit man to victual a camp to maintain an Army with light charge to deliver them from their subjection to the Romane Empire This is not sincere love such love is not lasting when the hope of gain and advantage is gone this love will be gone Now follow the Reasons of the Point 1. It is the character of a right Christian to love Jesus Christ in sincerity Because he is altogether lovely In him concurre what ever is requisit to the object of love As 1. Goodness is lovely Non amatur certe nisi bonum c. What ever we love we look upon it as good It either is so indeed or it appears so to us Jonâ—â—han upon this account loved David for his Vertue his Valour Prov. 24.26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer Wisdome Learning Ingenuity and such like graces procure Love Mark 10.21 Jesus beholding him loved him for his ingenuity Therefore Saints love the Lord Jesus Christ for he is good goodness it self Psal 45.2 Grace is poured into thy lips Cant. 1.3 Therefore do the Virgins love thee There is none good but God and Jesus Christ he is eminently good infinitely good he received not the Spirit of Grace by measure but in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily He is the Fountain of all goodness the good in the creature is derived from his goodness a drop of his Ocean a beam from the Sun of Righteousness of his fulness we all receive 2. Beauty is amiable therefore Jacob loved Rachel Ahasuerus loved Esther Upon this account Jesus Christ is most lovely who is the brightness of his Fathers Glory the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 Though carnal eyes see not his beauty Isa 53.2 3. He hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him But the Faithful who looked on him with spiritual eyes beheld his Glory The Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth John 1.14 3. Similitude likeness of nature and manners procureth love except it be by accident as a proud person hateth one that is as proud as himself and so doth one of the same calling envy another of the same profession Non in quantum est similis sed in quantum est proprii boni impeditivus as Aquinas gives the reason Now in this respect Jesus Christ hath highly merited a Christians love because he took on him humane nature and became like to us in all things save sin Heb 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Noah by falling into sin fell into shame and lay uncovered in his tent to the derision of his ungracious son Ham Sem and Japhet his better-natured sons took a garment and for grief went backward not enduring to look upon their Fathers nakedness Our First Parents by disobedience exposed themselves to shame and derision and all their Posterity to ruine remediless had not the Lord Jesus gone backward that is from Heaven to earth and so covered poor man with his skirt lest the shame of our nakedness should appear There is a Law Lev. 25.25 If thy brother be poor c. Our Father Adam was seized on a fair Possession but he sold it for no valuable consideration he was never able to redeem it nor any of his kin for it cost more to redeem a soul The good Angels though as friends they might commiserate lost man yet were they not able to recover for him his forfeited inheritance Gods Favour and Eternal Happiness and if they had been able yet by Law they might not do it being not in a capacity because they were no kin to man The Son of God therefore being able to do this unspeakable kindness for fallen man as being God blessâ—â— for ever mighty to save took on him our flesh that he might be of kin to us and so by right in Law redeem that possession which our Father sold O therefore love the Lord all ye his Saints For 4. He hath loved us Magnes amoriâ— amor Love bâ—getteth love We love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.10 Lord he is worthy Luke 7.5 much more is Christ worthy For he loveth our Nation Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me The tongue of men and Angels is not able to set forth the height and length depth and breadth of the Love of God in Christ God so loved the World c. Rev. 1.5 To Him that loved us and washed away our sins in his own Blood be Glory and Love Service c. I purposely spare to add more Reasons of the point it being of it self so agreeable to reason and a thing confessed by all Christians Use 1. Of Instruction If
Blood of Christ that you may grow thereby I commend you to the Word of God's Grace Acts 20.32 5. Make conscience of all your thoughts and words Do not entertain vain and unprofitable meditations especially beware of Ungodly Athiestical Envious Repining Quarelsom Impure thoughts God sees them and is angry at them The Lord knows the thoughts of man when they are vanity Psal 94.11 He will call us to an account for them in the Day of Reckoning he will Judge the secrets of men Rom. 2.17 and then every private and close thing shall be brought to light whether it be good or wether it be evil Eccl. 12. ult Entertain holy and profitable conceptions Carry something every day in your minds that is worth thinking of when you are at leasure and out of imployment Let some Experience Promise Threatning or some Obscure place of Scripture which hath been explained to you or some profitable part of Scripture-Story be treasured up in your minds that so you may not be at a loss how to imploy your thoughts when you have any vacant hours Sin many times enters in by the thoughts beware therefore of and silence sinful conceptions and imaginations lest they produce sinful actions And so make conscience of your words beware of idle frothy wanton expressions for of every such we must give account Let not your communication be such as that it should corrupt the manners of those you converse with David was careful of his words Psal 39.1 I will take heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I conclude this with that in Ephes 4.31 5.4 Let all Bitterness and Anger Wrath Clamour and Evil-speaking be put away from among you as becometh Saints and Filthyness and Foolish talking and Scurrilous jestings which are not convenient 6. Be and continue to be good in evil times In times of prophaness be you holy by how much others are worse by so much be you the better It 's Noahs commendation that he was upright in his generation Gen. 6.9 now the generation in which he lived was very wicked Lot was pure in an impure Sodom Say as Joshua Chap. 24.15 Chuse you whom you will serve but I and my house will serve the Lord So let us say let others prophane Sabbaths we will sanctifie them let others despise Prayer we will call upon God as long as we live Be not stumbled because you see the way of holiness every where spoken against Fire burns the hotest in winter nights let your zeal for God's Honour appear when others are Luke-warm and Cold. Do not think the worst of holiness because contemned by wicked men they are fools and are not competent judges Who thinks the worse of himself because a fool laughs at him Gold is gold still though thrown into the dirt by a mad-man so Religion is Precious and Honourable still though mad-men throw dirt upon it 7. Let your life be a walking with God Manifest Holiness and Piety in every turn of your lives Be holy in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in every turn manifest Holiness in every calling in every condition in prosperity in adversity in every relation when you are single before you change your condition and whilst you are in a married state A Christian may shew much of Piety in all these circumstances Be holy not only at sometimes but alwayes 8. Live the Life of Faith Gal. 2.19 the Life of Faith is an excellent Life it gives God the glory of all his Attributes of his Wisdom Goodness Faithfulness Power c. It 's a comfortable life Believing we have joy unspeakable and full of glory It keeps the soul from sinking under wants and troubles Faith as I may so say holds life and soul together If you live not the life of Faith ye cannot live see how much there is of unbelief so much there is of death yea unbelief is sometimes a promoter of temporal death That which the Apostle saith of worldly sorrow that it worketh death even natural death the same I may say of unbelief that it doth in it self hasten death for whilst infidelity and distrust prevails sadness discontent vexation repining and murmuring and fear prevails and all these are enemies even to the body of a Christian Moreover if we live by sence we shall lose much of our spiritual life your Graces and your Comforts will dye your Love Hope Joy and Delight in God will decay yea all Religion will decrease and grow faint Faith is the life of all Graces and Duties Sence and Reason is many times at its wits ends we know not what to do but Faith is never at a loss But our eyes are towards thee there is Faith in the former expression was the language of Sense Faith realizeth seeming impossibilities and presentiates things afar of Heb. 11.1 Act Faith for every thing wanting for your selves or for the Church Do you want pardon of sin is conscience burdened with the guilt of your corruptions act Faith upon such Promises as these Isa 1.18 Though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as Snow though they be like Crimson they shall be as Wool and in Hos 14.4 Do you want Righteousness to make you amiable in God's Eyes live upon that Promise in Jer. 23.6 He shall be called The Lord our Righteousness and that in 1 Cor. 1.30 Do you want purging Grace would you feign be washt from the filth and pollution of your lusts Plead such a Promise as that in Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle you with clean water that ye may be clean from all your filthiness will I cleanse you Do you desire persevering Grace and are you fearful of falling away urge that place in Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling c. and John 10.28 29. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish my Father is greater than all and none shall pluck them out of my hands Live by Faith for Counsel when you are in the dark and cannot see your way clear Isa 42.16 I will make darkness light before them and crooked things streight For provision when in straits for security and preservation in a time of danger from Isa 33.16 His place of defence shall be the Munition of Rocks Bread shall be given him his Waters shall be sure And so for the Church Live by Faith for the restoring of a faithful Ministry from Jer. 3.15 I will give them Pastors after my own heart which shall feed them with knowledge and understanding For the restoring of an instituted Worship Mal. 1.11 In every place Incense shall be brought and a pure offering Mal. 3.3 I will purifie the sons of Levi and they shall offer to the Lord a pure Offering in righteousness Believe for the returning of God to his Church and People after his seeming departure and forgetting them Isa 49.14 15 16. Yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee
his People a love to above Private Worship He loves it Psal 87.2 He loves the dwellings of Jacob but especially the Gates of Zion He will meet his People in secret but he hath made a more peculiar Promise to meet them in their Meetings Mat. 18.20 Exod. 29.42 Private Duties want not a blessing but Publick Worship is honoured by God to be the main Conveiance of Blessings Publick Ordinances are the great Veins wherein the Blood of Christ runs Psal 128.5 Psal 133.3 The Mount of Zion is the Mount of blessing The Gleanings of Ordinances are better than the Vintage of other Helps There he commanded the Blessing 1. There is Conviction 1 Cor. 14.23 24. 2. There is Conversion Rom. 10.14 Private Means want not their Encouragements but God sets the most seals to his Publick Worship Hearing is not the only way but it is the most ordinary way of Faith God's chief Doles are at Wisdoms Gates Psal 87.5 Of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born I may say new born there These are as it were the troughs as once Jacob did wherein God layes the Rod of his Strength and transforms hearts 3. There is Consolation The Ordinances are the breasts of Consolation Isa 66.11 There in the Banqueting-House God stayes his with Flagons and comforts them with Apples as in Cant. 2.4 5. There God puts the teat into the mouth and stills the Whimperings of his Children The Comforts that are given in Assemblies are most satisfactory as things done in open Court are most Authentick Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18 went away and her countenance was no more sad 4. There God carries on his work begun God feeds his People where he breeds them gives them Strength where he gave them Life Psal 84.7 Growth where he gave them truth of Grace Psal 92.13 To talk of over-thriving Ordinances is a mistake 'T is decay not thrift 't is death not growth We must be and may learn in Christ's School till we be sent to the University of Heaven Secondly And as God loves it and hath set his Broad-Seal to it so God hath wrought in his People a Love to it God's People cannot live without Secret Corners nor comfortably without Publick Meetings if they be cooped up at any time they are as a Child in the wombe strugling to get forth Hezekiah was more loth to leave Worship than to leave the world He mentions his Isa 38.11 loss of Converses with Men but not so emphatical as the other as you may observe I shall not see the Lord even the Lord He redoubles the word Lord to express his ardent Affections to God's Service and to intimate his desire of life that he might go to Church again Reade ver 22. of that Chapter Now can we part with such a Dorcas for good deeds and such a Jonathan for pleasantness without sorrow Can we suffer such a Right-hand to be cut off such a Right-eye to be plucked out without grief Shall such a Darling-Blessing dye unlamented Thirdly As Publick Worship is in the Heart of God and in the hearts of his People so Publick Worship is that which all need be their personal Abilities be their private Helps what they will 1. All need it Publick Worship is a publick Good and so a publick general Loss our persons our families will feel it it will be soon every where in a little time The Publick Worship is like Husbandry of which it is said The profit of the Earth is for all The King himself is served by the field Eccles 10.9 'T is well noted That the Ministry of the Word or rather the Ministers of the Word are set forth by common Blessings such as are Light and Salt and Harvest-men Bread so that the removal of such away is a common Mischief it is as if no Sun no Tillage no Labourers to reap down our Fields It is like the bellies want in the Apologue no member can do its office The Minister himself will want this Mercy The Light is profitable to him that carrieth it as well as to others They may in saving their Hearers save themselves 1 Tim. 4.16 But Oh how will all sorts of People want it Solemn Assemblies are the great Banks against Sin the main Quickners to Duty Ministers are both God's and mans Remembrancers Isa 62.6 2 Pet. 1.12 13. The want of them turns our Palaces into Hell for Darkness and Prophaness as Egypt was when it wanted Light Solemn Assemblies are the Directors of all sorts to their duties How soon shall we find this want in our Children and in our Servants nay in our selves We that have had so much a do to get or keep any life or sence what shall we do when we want those Rubbings Chasings Joggs Wheels Quicknings that we have had in the publick Ordinances Read and apply to this present purpose that speech which your dying dead Ministers may use to you Deut. 31.27 Mutatis mutandis For I know thy Rebellion and thy Stiff-neck Behold whilst I am yet alive with you this day ye have been rebellious against the Lord and how much more after my death Nay Furthermore I say it is that which all need be their personal Abilities never so great and be their private helps never so many It is a choice observation of a Man of God Hildersham on John 4. now with God a Man mighty in the Scriptures concerning David that though he was a Man of Excellent Gifts a Prophet a Pen-man of Scripture You have his Character and Portraiture in 2 Sam. 23.1 2. A man of incomparable Abilities vast Experiences singular Integrity A man after God's own heart and yet this man was a lover of the Habitation of God's House Psal 268. Nay besides these his own treasures he had wâ— h him sometimes if not alwayes an extraordinary 〈…〉 to be his Chaplain even God 1 Sam. 22.5 〈…〉 had likewise Abiathar a Priest to enquire of 〈…〉 hâ—m 1 Sam. 23.9 Yet he longs after the Orâ—â—â—â—nces bewails the want of Publick Worship and speaks as if he wanted God in many Psalms as if he had nothing of God comparatively to what he enjoyed there Oh who like David Great men that have much within themselves yet cannot quite keep off the Markets Verily the best stored heart or house will not live fully without these spiritual Markets All private helps may say to the publick Ordinances as Gideon to the men of Ephraim Judg. 8.2 What have I done in comparison of you Lay all this together strike â—â—eâ—e conâ—iderations on the heart as Moses did the Roâ—â— with his Rod and conclude the heart is a Rock indeed if it yeeld no water after these strokes Oh if any thing should open springs of sorrow in the heart iâ— should be the stopping up of such Wells But I stay too long upon things I proceed to the second Particular that sheweth how considerable the Loss of Solemn Assemblies are and that is Secondly In wanting the Solemn
believing hungry souls sake that are to be found in this place God may provide you in his due time with some such Teachers as may give you some wholsome food and not feed you with stones instead of bread For some such I doubt not will be found if God shall vouchsafe to you the mercy of a faithful Minister Though I dare not advise you actively to join in any thing that is in it self or in your judgement evil till you be satisfied about it yet I must advise you to take heed of separation from the Church or from what is good and God's own Ordinance If sound Truth be powerfully preached make use of and improve that though you cannot approve every thing the Minister doth I the rather add this because there are many that if Ministers do but mention the loss of Ministers are ready presently to accuse them of monopolizing all Religion to themselves and to their party But far be this from me and others I well know while the best of men are on earth there is likely to be variety of apprehensions and some men of sound judgements in the main of holy lives may satisfie themselves in the lawfulness of some things which others judge sinful And if God send such to you though I do not bid you approve their practice or justifie what they do yet bless God for them and improve their gifts and graces And yet at the same time you have just cause to bewail the laying aside of so many hundreds of Ministers Had so many hundreds of Ministers dyed a natural death in one day you would have looked upon it as a great judgement And sure it is no less when so many shall dye a civil death 2. A second means to enable you to hold fast what you have received is To be much in conference in considering one the other to provoke to love and to good works As this is a help to remembring so also to holding fast what you have received Heb. 10.23 24 25. 3. Hold fast the Word and Ordinances by prayer that God would continue them and that he would keep them in your minds and hearts 4. Be sure you hold fast God and Christ by faith It is God that vouchsafeth all these to you If the streams should fail be sure you hold fast the Fountain and you will be and do well enough 5. The fifth and last Counsel and Direction Christ gives to this languishing Church is To Repent Whence observe Doct. That Repentance is a soveraign means to repair decayed Religion and Godliness in a Church and in the souls of men Repentance is the souls Physick that purgeth out ill humors heals the souls distempers and restores it to a healthful constitution I intend not to handle this but to turn it into an Exhortation Let me leave this Counsel and Exhortation with all of you this day as that which probably may be the last and I am sure is the best Counsel I can give Oh Repent Repent both sinners and Saints Repent thou Drunkard Swearer Sabbath-breaker Unclean person thou Opposer of Godliness or what ever else thy sin be Remember thou hast been called on to repent this day O repent while it is called to day before the things that belong to your peace be hid from your eyes Repent even all both bad and good of those sins that have brought these Judgments upon us which this day we lie under More particularly 1. Repent of that Opposition against the Gospel and against the Ministers and Ordinances of Christ that any of you have been or aâ—e guilty of For this sin provokes God to take away Gospel-Mercies from a People 'T is true indeed that we may say and bless God for it that for the time we have laboured among you we have met with as little of this as any have done in a place of this bigness Yet some there have been that have been guilty of this though not many and they may have time enough to repent the hastning of their own calamities Repent of this sin Consider what God saith of such 2 Chron. 36.16 2. Repent of your Unthankfulness for the Gospel Repent of your not enough prizing Ordinances of your too much loathing or at least even by the best too little loving Spiritual Manna 3. Repent of your Barrenness and Unfruitfulness under and too little improvement of the Word Sacraments and Sabbaths you have enjoyed Bewail your sin that you have got no more good by all these that you have laid up no more in your years of plenty against years of scarcity 4. Repent of that too much Wantonness in Opinion and Practice that hath been to be found among Professors under choicest Gospel-enjoyments that you have played by the light and with the bread that God hath vouchsafed to you and not wrought by the one or fed heartily upon the other which may justly provoke God to put out your light and take away your bread 5. Repent of your decayes in Religion and Grace for which God threatens to remove the Candlestick from a Church and people Rev. 2.4 5. 6. Lastly Repent of that Deadness and Formality in Religion and in the Worship of God which you see to be in others but most of all of that you find and feel to be in your own hearts For for these and such like Sins it is that God comes as a thief on Churches or Persons And to stir you up to repent Consider First If you do not Repent God will come as a thief on you even suddenly unexpectedly when you least think of it and that to take away your Treasure your most Precious things which are so in themselves and should be so in your esteem even his Word Sacraments Sabbaths Ministers and all the tokens of his Gracious presence This will God do if you do not repent but remain hard-hearted and formal still contenting your selves with a name to live 2. Consider If you do repent of the evil you have done against God God may yea you have ground to hope he wil repent of the evil he is doing unto you He can find out ways agreeable to his Word and Will to continue or restore Ministers to People and People to Ministers He may yet return and leave a blessing behind Him O therefore Repent let us all set upon this work of Repentance And now Beloved I have finished what I at this time intended to speak upon this Text and probably with that my Testimony in publick among you Let me beseech you seriously to consider and set upon the practise of the Duties I have in the Name of the Lord from this Scripture exhorted you to Beloved It is no small grief and trouble to my self and Fellow-labourer to part with you It was in our hearts to have lived and died with you and among you if God had seen it fit But the will of the Lord be done We must acknowledge to the glory of God and â—our just
our duty which is a sin we cannot follow the dictate of Conscience here but we sin Nor can we go against Conscience though erring but we sin too And therefore wo unto them that call evil good and good evill that put darkness for light and light for darkness But this is one cause of halting in Religion Corruption of the mind and judgement When a man cannot well discern his way no wonder if he be oft turning aside 2. From an evil heart The corruptions of the heart are like a strong byass drawing the soul off from God Here 1. Unbelief An evil heart of unbelief is one cause of halting Heb. 3.12 Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God q. d. Would you not depart from the living God O then take heed of unbelief the cause of souls departing from him As it is by Faith that men come to God Heb. 11.6 so it is by unbelief that they depart from God In Heb. 10.39 They that draw back and they that believe are opposed to one another Pray mark what it was that kept the Disciples close to Christ when others fell off from him We believe and are sure say they that thou art the Christ Lord to whom should we go Thou hast the words of eternal life John 6.68 69. If we are halting in our course it would argue us full of unbelief That we do not believe the Word of God Do we believe God's promises and yet turn aside for the vain proffers of a deluding world Do we credit Divine threatnings when yet these are not of so much force to deter us from sin as the frowns and threats of men to drive us into sin Did men fully believe there is so much evil and danger in every sin as the Word of God declares there is they would immediately see cause to be more afraid of the least sin than of the greatest sufferings in the world Did men really believe what the Lord has said of such as obey him sincerely and follow him fully they must necessarily conclude thence that integrity is the best policy and Godliness the greatest gain But when men chuse either to decline a way of duty or to comply with a way of sin for fear of sufferings or in hopes of some worldly advantage this bewrayes abundance of unbelief Thus men really call in question the truth of what God hath spoken and interpretatively give him the lye And is not that a wicked heart that dares give God the lye Again Halting argues we believe not God that he is such a God as indeed he is So holy that he hates all sin so just that he will not acquit the wicked A gracious God rich in mercy to reward his faithful servants Infinite in Power to protect those that fear and put their trust in him but to destroy all those that forsake and rebel against him A God every-where present omniscient that eyes and observes us in all places companies employments Who would forsake or turn aside from the living God that believes him to be such a God But unbelief is the root of disobedience as in the Greek the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both This is the cause of inconstancy the root of Apostacy How is it possible that any other than bad fruit should spring from such a bitter and poysonous root 2. Hypocrisie is another cause of halting As Constancy is the daughter of sincerity so unstaidness is the natural off-spring and product of Hypocrisie Psal 78.37 Their heart was not right with him then it follows neither were they stedfast in his Covenant As on the other hand the upright in heart are opposed to such as turn aside into crooked wayes Psal 125.45 Hypocrisie makes men zealous about needless ceremonies but careless of the substance of Religion The Scribes and Pharisees who are therefore called hypocrites Matt. 15.7 were earnest for the observation of their traditions while they regarded not to go cross to known express commands of God They were not afraid in sundry cases to set aside God's command to hold up mens traditions Matth. 15.2 3. Mar. 7.8 Hypocrisie wil put men upon some duties while there is an allowed neglect of others and those more weighty Mat. 23.23 Hypocrisie will take men off from some sins while other sins are still retained As Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel but departed not from the sins of Jeroboam 2 King 10.28 31. It wil teach men to avoid open gross scandalous sins while they have no care to get cleansed from secret sins from inward heart-corruptions Matth. 23.25 c. Hypocrisie will allow men to condemn will put them upon speaking against the sins of former times while it teacheth compliance with the sins of the present times Hypocrisie will suffer men to live in those sins which they condemn in others Matt. 23.29 c. And what is all this but shameful halting Hypocrisie will teach men to make a fair shew sometimes to act a part in Religion for the compassing of some carnal end which being once obtained the Play is done and they are found other men than they appeared and personated before Hypocrisie is a paint that wil not endure the fire Let fiery tryals come and these soon marre its beauty lay open its deformity Hypocrisie is but the putting of the sheep-skin on a Wolf or Swine which if once it be shorn you would not expect it should grow again The last estate of the Hypocrite ordinarily is worse than the first Matth. 12.45 3. Base sinful self-self-love and inordinate love of the world Carnal self is a great hinderance and pull back to us in a Christian course Therefore Christ calls upon every one that would follow him to deny himself Matth. 16.24 Our base hearts will seem to comply with a Divine Command at one time but out of self-respect and dispence with the same command at another time out of self-respect Some that were constant in the performance of Family-duties seemingly strict in the observation of Sabbaths c. while these things have been in fashion can readily lay all religious duties aside when they become a matter of reproach Some that seem to stear their course Heaven-wards while they meet with prosperous gales who can soon tack about when the winds are contrary How should they do other than halt in Religion who have more respect to their Credit and Reputation in the world than to God's Honour See John 12.42 43. How can ye believe sayes our Saviour who receive honor one of another John 5.44 As the Apostle James Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God â—am 4.4 Many love their carnal ease more than their work more than God's service These are only for the easie part of Religion and so halt in Religion Many have more love to their Estates their earthly possessions And these will be only for the cheap part of Religion
and halt that way in Religion This Oyntment might have been sold for so much says Judas whose mind was chiefly on the Bag. Holy David was of another disposition I will not serve the Lord with that which costs me nothing One thing I must tell you here If our Religion be not such as weans our hearts from the world the world wil deaden them to the exercise of Religion If the love of God we all profess to have be not such as consumes inordinate love to the world our love of the world will smother the love of God not suffer that to live and breath in us See Matt. 6.24 4. A sinful cowardize and fear of man Prov. 29.25 The fear of man bringeth a snare Ponit offendiculum Lavater Tremel it causeth many to stumble Ponit tendiculam it layes many fast As we read John 7.12 13. Among the people some said of our Saviour He is a good man Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews Seducit turbas Ludol Carth. clarius Sonabant Sed Bonus est pressius susurrabant There were great numbers and many of great note in the world that cryed out aloud He seduceth the people But that he was a good man it was whispered amongst some but scarce any found that durst speak it out The fear of man would plainly argue our forgetfulness of God Isa 51.12 13. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil Prov. 16.6 whereas by the fear of men many depart from the Lord. The former is a Soveraign Antidote against sin an excellent means to preserve us from it Neh. 5.15 Exod. 20.20 The latter greatly exposeth unto sin As we have a sad instance in Peter being surprized with fear how was he whorried into the denial of his Lord and Master when as he should have been more afraid of this than of a thousand deaths Thus you have heard some of the causes of halting in Religion Other might be named but I forbear Demon. 3. Halting in Religion may further appear to be exceeding evil in regard of the evil effects the sad consequences of it And that both in respect of God of the godly of sinners and of ones self 1. In respect of God 1. Hereby God is dishonored his Name polluted It was a Law among the Jews Lev. 21.9 The daughter of any Priest if she profane her self by playing the Whore she profaneth her Father she shall be burnt with fire More holiness would be expected in such a one as the daughter of a Priest thus the crime in her was greater She prophaneth the Name of her Father Then what a prophaning the Name of God is this for such as are called his People to go a whoring from him The sinful slips and falls of Professors cast dirt as it were on the Name of God since they are taken to belong to him And how just a thing it is that God should spit in their faces put them to shame who care not thus to throw dirt in his face Thus indeed the sins of such as profess God's Name and stand in a nearer relation to him are worse than the sins of others The miscarriages of strangers of those that are without reflect not so much on God to his dishonor as the miscarriages of those who are within his Houshold and Family as the Church is called The Commands of God are violated and broken by others also yet the holy Name of God is not so polluted by others But the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Rom. 2.24 Better in this respect men would never take up a Profession than to rest here without taking any care for a suitableness of conversation Ezek. 20.39 As for you O house of Israel thus saith the Lord God Go ye serve every one his Idols and hereafter also if ye will not hearken unto me but pollute ye my holy Name no more q.d. If ye will not be ruled by me then go and serve your Idols altogether appear what you are but make no more shew of being my People to reproach and disgrace me It was a great dishonour to God that it should be said These are the Lord's People Ezek. 36.20 Hence as the sins of those who have his Name called on them are so far worse a greater dishonor to God than others so the more open and publick their warpings are still the more dishonour unto God Therefore the Lord was so quick and smart with Moses with that eminent Saint that faithful Servant of his that Favourite of Heaven Moses who was so far honoured that the Lord spake to him face to face even as a man speaks to his friend Yet Numb 20.12 The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron Because ye believe me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the Children of Israel Therefore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the Land which I have given them For this halting of yours before the Children of Israel you shall fall short of Canaan you shall nor have the honour of leading them into the promised Land Now if you do but look back to Numb 11.21 22. you will find Moses bewraying unbelief but privately before God And there the Lord only reasoneth him out of it v. 23. Is the Lord's hand waxed short Whereas in this other place when he smote the Rock twice his sin was publick here Moses and Aaron dishonour God in the view of the People wherefore the Lord clapt that smart sentence on their backs which no importunity in prayer could ever take off again or get reversed See Deut. 32.50 51. 2. Hereby the Truth and Wayes of God are much discredited They are deep wounds which the Truth receives in the house of its Friends It is long ere the scars wear out When any the professed followers of Christ and his Truth are taken tripping Religion it self must bear the blame and the way of Truth be evil spoken of This is their Religion say carnal men How earnestly doth the Apostle exhort Christians in general to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called Eph. 4.1 And Phil. 4.27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel So likewise he layeth a strict charge here upon several sexes estates and conditions The younger women must take heed they give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully 1 Tim. 5.14 Servants that are under the yoke must see to carry so in their places that the Name of our God and his Doctrine be not blasphemed 1 Tim. 6.1 The aged women must be patterns of holiness setting others a good example that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2.5 Christians halting in the way causeth others to speak evil of the way of Christianity 3. The Kingdom of God and His Interest is by this means weakned It loses more by the haltings and falls of Professors ordinarily than by the fury of Persecuters As Jacob complained of his Sons cruelty
God did we see him to be an alsufficient unchangable faithful God it would help us to hold out to follow him fully 4. Again eye His Omnisciency His eyes are upon the wayes of man and He seeth all his goings Job 34.21 He telleth all our wanderings When Peter was turning his back on Christ his Lord and Master looked on him all the while As he beheld guile-less Nathaniel under the Fig-tree So he likewise beheld Peter halting in the High Priests Palace 5. His Omnipresence O that we had Moses eyes to see him that is invisible Doubtless he is not far from any of us No fleeing from his presence Psa 139.7 c. That we cannot sin but in the face of our Judge What are ye not afraid to turn aside from God his Truth his Commands while the Lord himself stands by and observes all our carriage 6. His Holiness Justice and Severity against sin If any draw back his soul can take no pleasure in that man Only such as are upright in the Way that are his delight Pro. 11.20 As God is displeased at mens halting before him so he is ready to manifest his displeasure And what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God even as to fall into a consuming fire Such of God's Attributes as these last mentioned would very much awe us make us fear to depart or turn aside in the least from him But so much of the eighth Direction 9. Look to Jesus as your best guide And strive to follow his steps Observe how Christ carried in this world He did no sin neither was guile found in His mouth His love to man without dissimulation His zeal for God free from the least mixture of self-seeking He had the wisdom of the Serpent and the Doves innocency most exactly contempered duly proportioned in him He knew how to converse with sinners without the least communicating in their sins He was one and the same in all places at all times Far from studying a compliance with a corrupt and sinful generation rather he made it his work to do all that might be to change and amend it to set a crooked generation streight He was ever more careful to discharge duty than to provide for his own safety here In doing the work his Father sent him about into the world he wav'd and set aside self-respect John 5.30 8.49 50. The Truth and Honour of God was dearer to him than his own life O Christians follow this your Guide If we are Christians we ought to walk as Christ also walked 1 John 2.6 We are unworthy of the name of Christians if it be not our care and indeavour to follow Christ Now wherein we are followers of Christ we may be confident we go right so far we halt not in our course Therefore observe and eye Christ more Consider how he carried upon earth And where you are at a stand think if you can how Christ would have carried what he would have done in the like case with yours 10. Reckon upon troubles in this world Expect to meet with crosses in your Christian course As Paul and Barnabas confirmed the souls of the Disciples and exhorted them to continue in the Faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14.22 When we look to meet with the Cross in our way we shall not so soon stumble at it On the contrary the Disciples were offended at Christs passion and shrunk away from him being in a great measure surprized with it for as many fair warnings and express items as they had from our Saviour to prepare for his sufferings yet they would not let those sayings sink down into their hearts still their thoughts were upon Christs reigning here as an earthly King and on some great worldly advancement which they expected under Christ 11. Be going forward The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Though I do not determine this to be the sense of the place yet it is a truth if we take it thus The further we go on in the ways of God the more strength we shall find to hold out and continue in them The way of the Lord is strength to the upright The Righteous shall hold on his way and wax stronger and stronger Here they that run fastest are least weary Whereas if we sit still we shall soon grow lame and stark O take heed of standing still Be going forward Grow in Grace Let it be your care to grow in Grace as you fear to fall from your own steadfastness Weaklings are aptest to stumble and fall Therefore let us be going on from strength to strength It is a good thing indeed that the heart be established with Grace Heb. 13.9 Where note it is one property of Grace to establish the heart And the more Grace the more inward establishment Adde to Faith Vertue sayes the Apostle Peter Let these things be in you and abound And if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. Here I might instance in sundry particular Graces that you should be growing in especially You heard before what corruptions especially and most frequently are a cause of halting Now strengthen those Graces that are opposite thereunto Labour to increase and excel in Faith By Faith Enoch walked with God By Faith Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin In sincerity Being really what we seem to be The more truth in our inward parts the more Evenness and Uniformity in our outward Conversations In self-denial They that would follow God fully as Moses did must deny themselves as he did who refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter that he might be found the faithful Servant of God In an holy contempt of the world Labour to sit looser in your affections to the world if you would stick close to God Demas falling in love with this present world and affecting its embraces shook off holy Paul once and as some tell us turned Priest afterwards in an Idols temple Though others suppose he fell not so far but soon recovered again However the danger was very great see 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Many alas stick fast in the world stick fast here so that they know not how to take a step how to set a foot forward in the way to Heaven In love to God his Truth and Wayes This would cause you to cleave to him In Patience We have great need of Patience too that we be not wearied nor faint in our minds We must run with patience the race set before us Without patience we should soon be run out of breath 12. Lean ever upon Christ As you would not halt in your course lean hard upon Christ While we desire to grow in Grace yet we should fear to trust to Grace received It was the cause of Peters foul and shameful fall his self confidence conceiting that he was
is a reduplication of this Votum Apostolicum for so some reade it Gratia inquam adsit omnibus c. In words it is more contracted but in sense more comprehensive than the former verse thus I wâ—sh Peace Love Faith to the Brethren yea Grace all spiritual and heavenly blessings to you and all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity By Grace he meaneth omnimodam Gratiam all sorts of Grace having mentioned already Peace Love and Faith which are excellent graces yet are they not all Grace therefore he adds Grace that he may take his leave of these his beloved Brethren in the same manner as he resolved to come to others Rom. 15.29 In the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ In the Text are two principal parts 1. A Character of a right Christian a Christian indeed as Christ said of Nathaniel Behold an Israelite indeed he is one that loveth our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity For the Apostle wisheth not so great good to all that pretend love to Christ to Hypocrites but to such as love him unfeignedly 2. The subject matter of his wish what it is he desireth for sincere lovers of Christ it is Grace Not outward good things as health long-life riches honour though he excludeth not them nay Peace in the largest sense may include them and Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come But the Apostle willing to give them a brief Epitome of his large heart and good wishes for them doth it in this one word Grace as not knowing any bâ—tâ—er thing for them Doct. 1. Jesus Christ is our Lord. He is Lord of all Aâ—ts 10.36 but especially he is Lord of his Church which is his house Heb. 3.6 1. He built the house it is He that made us not we our selves 2. He hath moreover bought us Acts 20.28 the Church which he hath purchased with his own blood 3. Him hath God the Father exalted to be a Prince c. Acts 5.31 and Phil. 2.9 Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him c. Vse Let all things in the Church be regulated according to the Institutions of our Lord Christ Let Ministers who are Stewards over the House of God be wise and faithful to preach no other Doctrine administer no other Sacraments exercise no other Discipline introduce no other Rites into Divine Worship than what they have good warrant for from the Lord Jesus Christ and can say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.23 I received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you 2. Let all that profess hope of Salvation by Jesus Christ receive him for their Lord to rule over them as well as for their Saviour to redeem them Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say Luke 6.46 So we profess in our Creed I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and so in the close of our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. So let it appear in our Lives and Gospel-becoming-conversations But this I pass over There are two Doctrines arising from the two several parts of the Text which I am to insist upon And as I am to preach this day not knowing whether I shall ever have the liberty to preach again so I would have you to hear as not sure whether you may ever hear again Doct. 1. It is the character of a right Christian to love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity 2. The Apostle wisheth Grace to all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity as the best thing he could wish them 1. Of the first It is the character of a right Christian to love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Qu. To love Christ in sincerity what is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the letter of the Original is as much to say as in incorruption So reade the Interlin and vulgar Jesus Christ the Incorruptible God So reads the Ethiopick Arab. Amore non vitiato neque culpato that love Christ with a love not faulty nor blame-worthy which agrees best with the sense of Interpreters who render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incorruptly sincerely not feignedly It being the Apostles purpose by this phrase to exclude all rotten Hypocrites from the benefits he wisheth to good Christians Ubi notandum est hoc Apostolicum votum non in sceleratis hypocritis sed in sinceris tantum Christi Discipulis qui viz. Christum incorrupto animo diligunt locum habere Vorstius More particularly To love Christ in sincerity is the act or affection of a gracious heart whereby knowing the excellency and worth of Christ he desires union with him preferreth him communion with him and obedience to his Commandments before all things in the world 1. What it is to love Christ 2. In sincerity 1. Love of Christ implieth knowledge of him of his Worthiness and high Deserts Right Love is no blind affection but ariseth from Light and Understanding of the loveliness of the Object upon which it is placed and to which it is carried forth Cant. 5.10 The Church describing at large the Excellencies of Christ whom her soul loveth concludes ver 16. He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altogether lovely or desirable 2. From knowledge of the worth that is in Christ springeth desire of union and communion with him A man desires to be near his Friend in whom he delighteth loveth his company converseth with him Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight Psal 86.11 Unite my heart David desired to dwell in the House of God for ever because he loved him Psal 23. ult The wise Merchant buyeth gets into his possession the Pearl which he prized Matth. 13.46 3. Hence followeth an high esteem of Christ so as he preferreth him to all other things whatsoever He seeth no beauty excellency comparable to his Cant. 5.10 The chiefest of ten thousand Psal 63.1 My soul thirsteth for thee 4. Lastly The loving soul is most obedient 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth him so as he thinketh nothing too hard to do or suffer nothing too dear to part with for Christs sake Amanti nihil durum 2. What it is to love Christ in sincerity 1. It is to love him with the whole heart according to the utmost extent of that phrase Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul c. Isa 26.8 The desire of our soul is unto thee This is to love without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 To love not in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth 1 John 3.18 Where love is sincere there is idem velle nolle as if two hearts were in one body We love Christ sincerely or with all the heart when his will is ours our will is conformable to his when his Laws are so wrirten in our hearts that we are wholly his to be commanded as men subscribe their Letters to their friends Yours to
sincere Love to Christ be a distinguishing character of a right Christian then surely there be but few right Christians for there be few that love Jesus Christ in sincerity 1. There be many complemental lovers of Christ that say They love him withal their heart as the Papists who wear his Picture and bow to a Crucifix yet crucifie him afresh in his Saints the superstitious persons who cringe and make low courtesie at the rehearsing of the syllables of the Name Jesus yet do they not blaspheme that worthy Name by their unchristian practices Do they not take his Name in vain whilst they seem to shew reverence to his Name Did the Jews honour Abraham really to whose memory they pretended much respect We have Abraham to our Father say they we be Abrahams Seed Joh. 8.33 To whom our Saviour answers ver 39. If ye were Aâ—â—ahams Children ye would do the Works of Abraham If these men loved Christ with all the heart they would not hate whom he loves darely nor persecute his faithful Members nor take his Name in vain How canst thou say I love thee when thy heart is not with me said Dalilâ—h to Sampson Psal 78.36 They did flatter with their mouths and lyed unto him with their tongues 2. There are that love Christ but not with a transcendent Love they love Him a little but the world much more 2 Tim. 3.4 Lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God Joh. 12.43 They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God Can that man be said to love his wife with a conjugal Love that loveth another woman above her Can those be said to love Christ sincerely that love themselves or their lusts and prefer them before Christs Commands that make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts contrary to Rom. 13. ult Do they love Christ or filthy lucre who laugh in their sleeves and applaud themselves in their covetous practices whilst the Minister is preaching against his covetousness Luke 16.14 The Pharisees who were covetous heard these things and they derided him Do they love Christ or money better who are so void of charity that though they see a Brother or Sister naked or destitute of daily food yet will neither fill them nor warm them nor give those things which are needful to the body but hide themselves from their own flesh Christ will one day confute their fond pretences of love to himself to be meet self-delusion when they shall hear from the mouth of Him the Judge Depart c. for I was hungry and ye fed me not c. 3. There are Christians that love Christ as a Saviour but not as a Prophet as a Priest but not as a King Do these love him in sincerity 〈◊〉 Christ divided Did the Harlot love the Child with the love of a Mother who would have had it divided Solomon was wise enough to discern she was not the true Mother that had not the bowels of a mother And the Lord Christ who is greater than Solomon whose eyes are as a flame of fire Rev. 1.18 Who tryeth the reins and heart will easily perceive that man is no lover of Christ in deed and truth whatever he may affirm in word and tongue who divideth between Salvation and Sanctification who opposeth one of Christ's Offices to another who refuseth to take Christ's Yoak upon him will not stoop to the Scepter of his Rule and Government though 't is a Golden Scepter of Grace and his Yoak is easie and his Commandments are not grievous Christ came to set us an example That we should walk in his steps he came not only to suffer and dye for our sins but to rule over us to take upon him the Government of his Church Isa 9.6 He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever Luke 1.33 The Gospel is his Royal Law Jam. 2.8 which he establisheth in his Kingdom and to which he expecteth a conformity in all his Subjects The Turks own Mahomet's Law for their Rule and live up to it The Jews receive Moses Doctrine and live exactly according to the letter of it and the sence they have of it And how can those Christians be said to love Jesus Christ sincerely who profess to receive his Doctrine as a Rule but walk contrary to it 4. There are Christians who love Christ not for himself but for something else Some follow him in hope of gain as Judas Demas like those mungrel people that went along with Israel out of Egypt Exod. 12.38 which were the first that fainted and set them on murmuring and lusting Numb 11.4 Some followed Christ for the Miracles they saw him work and professed to believe John 2.24 but he did not commit himself to them because he knew their hearts were not right with him Some followed him Joh. 6.66 but took offence at his Doctrine and so went away Who ever follow Christ for by-ends love him not in sincerity not for himself but as boyes and idle persons love many holidayes not for Holiness sake or Saints sake but for playes sake So these love Christ for commodity sake or credit sake which respects when they faile there is an end of such love Use 2. The principal Use of this Doctrine had need be for tryal Let every one that nameth the Name of Jesus Christ prove the sincerity of his Love Give me leave to perswade you my Beloved as to try your Faith in so your Love to Jesus Christ Gal. 6.4 Let every one prove his own work so shall he have rejoycing in himself c. 1. Christ will not take good words a fair profâ—ssion of friendship for sincere Love He tryeth reins and heart Rev. 2.23 His eyes behold his eye-lids try the Children of men Metaph a palpebris pressis From them that press down their eye-lids that they may look wishly narrowly He will weigh our Love in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and quickly espie if it be too light He can distinguish between flattery and sincere love 2. Many pretenders there are in the world but few unfeigned lovers of Christ Mat. 25.44 Lord when saw we thee an hungry c. Lord we have been in thy Name Baptized we have worn thy Livery we have heard many a Sermon we have been oft feasted at thy Table as Luke 13.27 yet the answer is sad I tell you I know not whence you are depart from me c. Had these loved the Lord with an unfeigned Love they had not received so harsh a doom which they might easily have understood had they in time taken a tryal of their Love 3. Our hearts are also false and deceitful in this very point of love to Christ Peter was as confident of his sincere love to Christ as we can be though all men should deny yet he would dye first yet ye know what proof he made Insomuch that afterwards John 21.15 when our Saviour put to him this question Lovest thou me more then these he being taught more
modesty by the woful experience of his false heart answers not to the degree of love but only that he loved Christ 4. It is possible that many Christians may hate Christ as much as we doâ— the memory of those Jews that crucified him albeit we be strongly perswaded that if we were called to formal trial we would rather dye than openly deny him or his Gospel Do we from our hearts detest the mention of Annas Caiaphas Judas and that rabble which conspired the death of the Lord of life In like manner did those Jews abhor the memory of Korah Dathan Abiram and the rest of those that rebelled against Moses Do our spirits rise in indignation against them that stoned Stephen persecuted the Apostles forbiding them to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved 1 Thes 2.16 With no less displeasure were they moved against the memory of Ahab and Jezebel and those though their own Princes who slew the Lord's Prophets Matt. 23.30 If we had been in the dayes of our Fathers c. The name of Abraham they had in high esteem he being the prime person of their Progenitors with whom God Almighty made that glorious Covenant wherein they had the priviledges of the First-Born The memory of Moses was amongst them very precious with whom God was pleased to talk face to face who received the lively Oracles to give unto them Acts 7.38 To have upbraided the softest spirit in that Rebellious people with treachery or disloyalty against the Messias when he should be revealed would as much have moved his choler as to tell some forward professor amongst us he would betray his Lord were he now on the earth for half the money that Judas did yet these men brake first in their love to Abraham so our Saviour telleth them John 8.39 then in their fidelity to Moses John 5.45 46. and the Prophets Matt. 23.35 No marvel then if they took offence at our Saviours life his carriage and conversation amongst them and afforded him such entertainment as they did Let not then Hypocrisie deceive us by suggesting these or the like suppositions they are the words of Dr. Jackson if we should be urged by the Turk or Jew to deny him we would sooner dy the death he did then do it or were he present in person to exhort us to such duties as his Messengers enjoyn us we should sure be as forward as any man living to do them these or the like imaginations do but foretoken our need of that apology and argue our inclination to use it though alas it cannot stead any in that day of tryal Lord when saw we thee naked or an hungred When in the Pulpit or preaching in our streets deterring us from evil and exhorting us unto good Much more to this purpose see in Dr. Jackson of Justifying Faith That we may not therefore deceive our selves with vain pretences of love let us try the sincerity of it and weigh it in the ballance of the Sanctuary Notes of sincere love to Christ. 1. The first shall be that which you have in Psal 97.10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil Lovers have enemies and friends in common Gen. 12.3 I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee God will be a Friend to Abrahams friends an Enemy to his enemies Who love Christ unfeignedly hate sin which he hateth Rev. 2.6 Sin is evil the greatest of evils The work of the Devil which Christ came into the world purposely to destroy 1 John 3.8 If thou art a friend to sin any way of wickedness If thou love Ignorance superstition If thou love a false oath Zech. 8.17 If thou love flaggons of wine Hos 3.1 If thou delightest in scorning Prov. 1.22 if thou make a mock at sin Prov. 14.9 If thou hate knowledge despise duty scoff and scorn at Holiness which Christ commandeth thou lovest him not If thou regard iniquity in thy own heart if thou allow of it in thy children thy friends if thou plead for sin undertake the patronage and defence of it thou proclamest thy enmity and hostility to Jesus Christ But if thou hate and abhor the way of lying Psal 119.163 If thou hate every evil way Psal 119.128 in thy self first then in others as he that hates a Toad hates it most in his own bosome as saith D. Sibbs if thy hatred of it be universal against the whole kind if thy hatred be rooted irreconcilable so as there is no appeasing of it but by the crucifying and abolishing of thy hated corruptions this is right hatred of sin which argueth thy conversion to be sound and thy self an unfeigned lover of Jesus Christ Note 2. Who love Christ in sincerity love what ever hath relation to him As 1. His House and Worship there performed Saints love Communion with Christ love to be where he is The Lord loveth the gates of Zion his People love the threshold of the Sanctuary Psal 120.14 Thy servants take pleasure in her stones they favour the dust thereof Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thy Honour dwelleth Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said Let us go up to the House of the Lord. Our feet shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem 2. Saints dearly love the Truth and Word of the Lord. As their voice is sweet to him in prayer Cant. 2.14 So his voice in his Word is sweet to them Psal 119.103 How sweet are thy words unto my tast Yea sweeter then honey to my mouth vers 72. The Law of thy mouth is dearer to me then thousands of Gold and Silver The very reproofs of Christ are precious to them Psal 141.5 Our love to Christ is not right if we be impatient of admonition if we cannot endure reproof for sin but swell against it it is a sign we love sin which cannot consist with unfeigned love to Christ 3. His Messengers are welcom their feet beautiful Rom. 10.14 Because they are the servants of Christ and shew us the way of savation therefore we have them in reputation Phil. 2.29 Because they are over us in the Lord and admonish us therfore we esteem them highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5.13 But if we repine stomach or maligne his Embassadors taxing our crimes though in sharpest terms or if we neglect to examine our hearts and consciences at their request or instance it is a sure token our perswasions of Faith and love unto him are but fancies that we are still in the gall of bitterness enemies as cruel to him as these Jews were c. Dr. Jackson 4. His Day the Lords Day Rev. 1.10 is to all sincere lovers of Christ a joyful Day a Day of delight Isa 58.13 On this Day Christ appeared to his Disciples after his Resurrection upon this Day he still appeareth to his People making neer approaches to their souls in his blessed Ordinances teaching them inlightning them comforting their hearts
and perswading the things concerning the Kingdom of God Luke 24.32 Did not our hearts burn within us whilest he talked with us and opened unto us the Scriptures 5. The Lords Table where he feasteth his Friends as Cant. 5.1 and bids them welcome saying Eat O Friends Drink yea drink abundantly O Wel-beloved I appeal to the consciences of many sincere Christians when they have taken most pains with their own hearts to get them into frame against a Sacramental day when they have been deeply humbled in self-abhorrency broken in confessions with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered if God have not spoken peace to their souls Son daughter be of good chear thy sins be forgiven if their hearts have not danced for joy as David did before the Ark 6. The Lord's People his faithful Members are they thy friends thy companions of thy intimate society dost thou prefer them to others Psal 16.3 as the only excellent ones 119.63 I am companion to all that fear thee to all even to poor Saints as well as rich despised as well as honourable dost thou relieve them in want succour them in misery visit them if in Prison and therefore because they belong to Christ have much of Christ in them This he taketh kindly Mark 9.41 because they belong to Christ 7. Dost thou love the Day of Christ's appearing which though it be black and gloomy a terrible day to the proud and all ungodly enemies of Christ yet is it a day much to be desired by all that love the Lord who may rejoyce and lift up their heads in joyful hope of this Dayes approach their Redemption draweth nigh now is their Salvation nearer than when first they believed now shall the Elect receive the end of their Faith and Hope and Prayers and Tears and Sufferings 2 Tim. 4.8 It is made a character of the righteous that they love the appearing of Jesus Christ Heb. 5. ult Unto them that look for him Tit. 2.13 Looking for c. Not only looking for but hasting to the coming of the Day of God 2 Pet. 3.12 3d. Note is in Christ's own words John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments all one as well as another hard as well as easie John 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Abraham is called the Friend of God and his friendship was tried and approved by his obedience to those hard Commandments of leaving his Country and offering up his only son his son Isaac whom he loved The partial obedience of most people is no obedience at all argueth no sincere love to Christ 4. To suffer for Christ to part with our dearest interests for him argueth sincere love to him Jacob endured a hard service of seven years for Rachel which though long because hard yet seemed to him but as a few dayes for the love he had unto her Jonathan endured his father's displeasure for David whom he loved and was well content to part with his hope in the Kingdom because he loved him as his own soul The Martyrs Rev. 12.11 loved not their lives unto the death The Apostles went away rejoycing they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ If we dare not adventure to suffer the spoyling of our Goods dare not hazard the frown or displeasure of a Landlord dare not suffer the loss of Name or Reputation for Christ and his Gospel how dwelleth his Love in us 5. Who love the Lord in sincerity will not easily part with Him his Comforts his Graces his Presence and Power of his Ordinances Exod. 21.5 The servant that loved his master and the family would not go out free Love prevailed above Liberty which is very desirable To sincere Christians the absence of Christ is grievous how they mourn to part with Ordinances in which they have found sweet communion with Christ David in the Wilderness how he longed after God! Psal 63.1 With sorrow and weeping tears the Disciples take their leave of St. Paul Acts 20. ult when they were to see his face no more Those people that with those Jews Acts 13.50 expel Ministers out of their coasts or with them Luke 4.29 thrust Christ out of their City or with the more mannerly Gadarens who besought him to depart from them who can be content to suffer a famine of the Word rather than be at the cost of maintaining a Preaching-Minister they will not buy the Truth so dear who are well enough pleased to see their Ministers removed burning and shining Lights put under a bed or a bushel Teachers driven into corners do give a plain demonstration how little love they have to Jesus Christ it is evident they prefer their Swine their Gain their Money to Jesus Christ Now I beseech you Brethren take a little pains to try the truth of your Love to Christ It will be the greatest comfort to your souls of any thing in this world if upon good ground it may appear you are of them that love the Lord in sincerity What bonefires of joy may such Christians make in their hearts in the saddest times and darkest night of affliction Psal 112.4 To the upright ariseth light in darkness If you love Christ be sure ye are of him beloved Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me To you he will be a never-failing friend in trouble in sickness in all afflictions in life and death and at the day of Judgement to them he will pronounce that heart-chearing sentence Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom c. But if by the foregoing Evidences taken out of the Scriptures of Truth the contrary do appear and we be not found amongst Christs real Friends but however we may flatter our selves among his enemies and of them that hate Him then shall we from his mouth hear that heart-breaking doom Depart from me ye cursed c. I never knew you And if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha SERMON VI. Ephes 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity VVE come now to speak to the second Doctrine which is this Doct. 2. The best thing in the world is Grace not gifts parts which are Gratiae gratis datae of an inferiour nature which the Apostle elsewhere wisheth for his Corinthians 1 Cor. 14.5 But here being to take his leave of his People wisheth for them saving Grace such as Faith Remission of sins Fellowship with all Saints in the general Resurrection So Haimo in locum That Grace is so excellent a thing appeareth in this That the Apostle in all or most of his Epistles both begins and ends with it His first salutation in the entrance is Grace be unto you and Peace to which he sometimes addeth Mercy Grace to renew our nature Peace of conscience Mercy for pardon of sin If we find sin pardoned our persons accepted our natures altered then may we comfort our selves c. saith Dr. Sibbs In
in God 1. The foundation of this Interest is laid in the free Love of God to their souls We can shew no other ground of all those rich heavenly priviledges Believers enjoy but only this because God loved them from eternity this is the bottom of all every one of our priviledges is laid in God's love Whom God loved from eternity them he chose from eternity to be a People nigh unto him that should have interest and propriety in him Hence it is Believers are called Elect and Chosen ones Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world 2. ' T is ratified and made sure by the Covenant of Grace When God having brought the soul over to himself and enriched it with Faith and other Graces comes actually to strike covenant with him than is this interest and propriety in God established and made firm this appears from the very tenour of the Covenant of Grace Jer. 31.33 This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People God hath given his People an interest in himself and he hath confirmed this by Oath and Covenant he hath sworn that he will be the Believers God Come we to apply this Doctrine 1. Have Believers an interest in God We may here stand and wonder at the honour that is bestowed upon Believers Surely the outward glory of Solomon fell short of this to be a People near to God is a high honour to be related to him is a great dignity but to have a right to God and all in God is a priviledge not to be fathomed by humane arms and yet this honour have all the Saints though in their outward condition never so poor and contemtible t is the greatest honour in the world to be able to say My God If David was filled with admiration that he should be son in law to the King How may the hearts of Believers run over when they consider what honour they have in being Sons of God! 2. Have Believers an interest in God Then in vain do Satan and his Instruments labour to make them miserable Can any man be miserable that hath an interest in God Men would have judged David a miserable man but he hath a friend to stand by him in whom he encourageth himself Will God forsake his People will he suffer men to spoil his Jewels No they do but polish them if Satan and his instruments could dissolve this interest and pluck Believers out of God's arms than were their misery at hand but this they cannot do God feels the blows which Believers receive Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me He is touched with all their injuries and surely he is able to save them 3. Have Believers an interest in God Then hath God also an interest in them and this Believers must know and remember this propriety is mutual betwixt God and his Saints as he is theirs so they are his not their own This must put us in mind of our duty that we do not altogether dwell upon priviledges and forget duty We must not boast of our propriety in God and serve our selves and our own lusts As God in his Covenant sayes I will be their God so he adds and they shall be my People and for this end he promiseth to put his Laws in our inward parts and write them in our hearts that so we may yeeld him Covenant-obedience Remember Christian thou art not thine own but God's 't is not for thee to serve love and please thy self but God As we have right to all God hath and can do so hath God right to all we have and can do our gifts parts strength time and estates must be laid out for God 4. Have Believers an interest in God then let them pity such as have not and strive to bring them under this happiness let our souls bleed within us to consider how many thousands are strangers yea and enemies to God and without God in the world Canst thou call God thy God there are many thousands in the world that cannot do this Canst thou call God Father O how many are there that cannot do this in Faith Pity such and pray for them yea labour by all means to bring them home to God See whether there be no such in your families or amongst your kindred and neighbours Are not many of these in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity if so pity such souls and labour to pray them in to God that they also may have an interest in him 5. Have Believers an interest in God This speaks exceeding great joy and comfort to Beleivers such as can say with David The Lord my God If we knew God better we should understand more of this great consolation The serious thought of this interest in God is able to make a Believers joy to exceed all bounds The consolation will empty it self into these four chanels 1. If God be thine thou then art Gods and he will own thee he will preserve thee he will provide for thee thou needest not torment thy self with carefulness who hast such a God to care for thee There is as much comfort in that last branch of the Covenant they shall be my People as their is in the former I will be their God 2. If God be thine then is his Christ thine thou hast an interest in Christ and all his Sufferings his Merits and Righteousness He is made of God to us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption whole Christ is thine Christ and all that he hath done Christ and all that he hath suffered Christ in his Person and in his Portion thou maiest say of him with the Spouse My Beloved is mine and I am his 3. If God be thine then is his Spirit thine to lead thee into all Truth the Comforter to abide with thee the Spirit of Grace to sanctifie thee the Witness to testifie thy Sonship to God and to seal thee unto the day of Redemption this Spirit is thine if God be thine 4. If God be thine then is his Kingdom thine his Glory thine T is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom a Glorious Kingdom whose builder and founder is God an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you such as can call God theirs shall be sure one day to Reign with their God in the Kingdom of his Glory Proceed we to the second Observation from the words which was this 2. There is enough in God to encourage a Believer when greatly distressed 'T is clear from this instance of David he was greatly distressed as you have heard yet he encouraged himself in his God Follow him from hence to the 23. Psal the 4. ver and there you may find him insulting over the
the occasion of a Sermon that enlightened me quickened me This breach brought me to Christ acquainted me with my necessity of interest in Christ I am not of the temper of that Emperour who said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when I dye let the Earth be burned But O that my Civil Death might minister occasion of your Spiritual and Eternal Life O that this divorcing day betwixt you and me might be the day of your Espousals to Christ Dying David bespeaketh Solomon I go the way of all the Earth Keep the charge of the Lord thy God that thou mayest prosper 1 Kings 2.1 2 3 4. My loving People I am this day going the way of all that will live godly in Christ Jesus the way of tribulation I charge you keep the Lord's way as you expect any blessing and prosperity look for them only through Christ the Way the Truth and the Life I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge both quick and dead as the Apostle when his time of departure was at hand charged Timothy that ye rest not without Interest in Christ and I leave this Sermon as Joshua did the Pillar as a Memorial that I admonished and besought you to come to Christ and become his Servants O let not the Word I have spoken to keep my self pure from your blood condemn you in the day of Christ You cannot plead We were not bidden to the Wedding-Feast we were not called to Christ No if you be found out of Christ at that great day how will it torture you to consider How have we hated Instruction and have not obeyed the voice of our Teachers In vain may you wish O that we had the day of Grace once again Domine cur non modo c. said Augustine at his conversion Lord why not now an end of my filthiness So say I to you Why not now a parting with sin and closing with Christ Take these Considerations or Motives 1. The Lord Christ calleth you whilst we are testifying these things to you Whilst Noah was preparing the Ark Christ was preaching See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh from Heaven 2. Others who have had as great hindrances as you have followed Christ at his Call James and John Mat. 4 22. left the ship and their father immediatly and followed Christ neither enjoyments not imployments nor relations could hinder them Zacheus a rich man of low stature in a great press yea of a wicked Sect a Publican great obstacles yet he breaketh through all he runs and climeth to see Jesus If you come not to Christ you will be inexcusable 3. Let the Loveliness of Christ draw you he is the Rose of Sharon the Lilly of the Valley the bright and morning Star the Sun of Righteousness chiefest among ten thousands and altogether lovely O let his Fulness and Perfections win your hearts and attract your affections 4. Let the Love of Christ constrain you his condescending and dying for you to save you from everlasting death Will not such bonds of Love hold you 5. The Lord taketh exact notice how long your Teachers are labouring with you what means you have and what fruit appeareth These three years have I come seeking fruit Luke 13.7 6. You must shortly appear before the Judge to give account how you have profited by all the Sermons and Lectures you have heard c. 7. Now is the Ax laid at your roots Judgment begining at the house of God your Teachers ready to be removed into corners possibly you may go from Sea to Sea and not find that refreshing food for your souls nor those advantages which you have had Now therefore what mean you O sleepers are you set on fire round about and not lay it to heart Let the time past of your life suffice you to have been servants of sin It is high time for you to awake out of sleep and to follow Christ 8. If you will not come this day what if the Lord should write you Christless and swear in his wrath You shall never enter into his Rest nor tast of his Supper saying I would have purged you and ye were not purged never be purged dye in your sins he that is filthy let him be filthy still 9. Christ is willing to be yours if you will be his he will not reject you if you come you have as fair Encouragement to come as ever any had 10. They are very fair terms propounded Is it not fit you serve him if you expect him to save you that you obey him if you hope for his Salvation Had he bidden you do some great thing should you not have done it how much more when he requireth nothing but what is your reasonable service befitting you as his Creatures They are fair terms Repent and be conuerted that your sins may be blotted out Come to me and find rest Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Be faithful unto death and obtain the Crown of Life 11. And lastly Let your necessity drive you to Christ Is there but one Ark in the world to save you from drowning but one City of refuge to keep off Vengance from you O hie thither apace Is there but one day-Star to shine into your hearts but one Son of Righteousness with Healing under his wings but one Sacrifice for sin accepted But one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus O get interest in Him Oh! why do any of you linger and not hasten to this Zoar when Fire and Brimstone are so nigh so certain to all that reject Christ Oh! why do you draw back when drawing back is unto Perdition Know my Brethren these things as much concern you as ever any souls in the world what need have you of Christ to be your Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption without Him you are cursed captivated and condemned John 3.18.36 without Christ ye are deaf and dead poor and polluted and have no title to Heaven to the Promises nor any thing but sin and its wages Death Nay if you obey not whilest Christ calleth Come unto me you must with honour hear that other voice Depart ye cursed Those mine enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring forth and slay them before me Let me hint to you on what terms you must be in your coming to Christ 1. You must be divorced from your sins make sure you take off the heads of your dearest lusts 2. Disclaim all other Saviours besides Christ renounce confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 rest not in your outward priviledges nor performances but when you have done all you can say We are unprofitable servants 3. Rest not in a bare notion of Christ take heed lest you sit down with Fancy instead of Faith 4. Take a whole Christ Christ to rule you to teach to sanctifie you as well as save you 5. Give your selves wholly to Christ without reserve give him your ear open to his
Calls his Sheep hear his Voice and know not the voice of strangers give him your eye look unto him and be saved give him your hand and feet to do what he commandeth and come when he calleth give him your knee to bow to him not meerly in a complement but to submit to his Laws and obey him as King and Lord especially give him your hearts let him be enthroned there Lift the everlasting Doors that the King of Glory may enter With the tongue you must confess and with the heart believe that you may be saved And take him for yours for ever abide for him for many dayes Beware of Apostacy by which Judas lost the Blessing and went to his own place You see Brethren al blessings are to be expected only through Christ I beseech you go home and work these things on your hearts by meditation wrestle for a Blessing say Lord Jesus who blessedst thy Disciples bless me even me also I will not let thee go unless thou bless me cry to him as the blind lame and diseased cryed when he was on earth Jesus have Mercy on us and believe that he is able willing and ready to bless you As for me God forbid I should cease to pray for you that the Lord would put his Blessing on you One thing further let me mind you of That you be much in blessing God for his Love and Faithfulness in giving his Son and ascribing Blessing and Praise to the Lord Jesus for all spiritual Blessings and for going to Heaven blessing his People Especially I charge you be careful to spend the Lords Day which is precious time which he hath sequestred and set apart for himself in a thankful Commemoration of Jesus Christ his Grace and Compassion to poor sinners and not in sports and past-times study what you shall render to him in lieu of such superlative and incomparable Love and in a due Sanctification of the Lord's Day endeavour that the Name of Christ may be remembred through out all Ages The third and last Use is Consolation for I would not leave you comfortless 1. Here is abundant Encouragement to poor sinners to come to Christ you that have trembling hearts and dare scarce look up to Christ by reason of your sins lest he call you Dogs and cast you out who are ready to say There is indeed Consolation in Christ and he hath Blessings enough to bestow but they are not for me let me tell you it is good to be humble and sensible of your own vileness but not to be faithless and unbelieving for unbelief is highly derogatory dishonourable to Jesus Christ and wrong to your own souls a rejecting of your own mercy I could also tell you it is the most unreasonable thing for you to question Christ's pitty and tenderness towards poor heavy laden sinners after that he hath from Eternity had his delights with the sons of men Prov. 8.31 And in Noahs time he was preaching to save souls would they have believed and obeyed He sent all his Prophets of old to testifie remission of sins to all that believe in Him Acts 10.43 The Prophets testifie his tenderness Consult Isa 55. the seven first verses Ho every one that thirsteth He will abundantly pardon Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs and carry them in his bosome Isa 42.3 A bruised Reed shall he not break Isa 61.1 2 3. He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted Ezek. 18.23 Have I any pleasure that the wicked should dye Psal 72.12 13 14. He shall save the souls of the needy You have his own Testimony John 6.37 Them that come to me I will in no wise cast out You have the Experiences of the Saints recorded for your encouragement The Apostle Paul who was a Persecutor and confesseth himself the chief of sinners yet he obtained Mercy The thief upon the Cross though before he reviled Christ yet praying obtained a very gracious Answer Nay consider what Christ hath done to shew himself in good earnest to save souls He knew what a bitter Cup he must drink yet Loe I come he became our Surety and longed to have our debt paid and his People redeemed Luke 12.50 He was wondrously straitned till his Baptism of Blood was accomplished He hath sent his Apostles after such signal Manifestations of Grace to testifie it And in his Name my Beloved I am this day declaring to you That he is very willing and ready to receive any that will come to him and would gather you as a Hen doth her Chickens under her wings never did any find him backward nay He is more willing to bless you than you are to receive his Blessings It 's some satisfaction when men will come that he may see the travel of his soul Isa 53.11 He taketh it ill that we are so backward in coming He loved the young-man that came running kneeling enquiring Good Master what shall I do c. and had the young-man liked the terms the match had been made the breach was not on Christ's part Nay Luke 15. he sheweth there is joy in Heaven over one repenting sinner in three Parables Draw near then thou drooping dejected soul come and see not only the Hands and Feet of thy Saviour put not only thy hands into his pierced Side But behold the heart of thy Redeemer behold thy Lord lifting up his Hands and Blessing and see if there be not ground to cry out My Lord and my God Had you seen Him after sweating drops of Blood for you ascending with such Expressions of hearty Love could you have doubted Had you seen his Hands lifted up in blessing his People on Earth at his last farewel could you doubt of his willingness to bless you 2. Here is Comfort for the People of God amidst all the Curses and Persecutions of the world Be not afraid no matter who curse so Christ bless Psal 109. Let them curse but bless thou Christ's Blessing is your Pavilion from the strife of tongues For first Christ blesseth effectually Psal 37.22 when Christ will bless men cannot let Secondly Irrevocably When Christ blesseth men cannot reverse it Balaam could not curse Israel when God had blessed The Blessings of Christ are without Repentance Men now cry Hosanna anon crucifie but they whom Christ blesseth shall be blessed everlastingly Thirdly he blesseth such as bless his Servants and curseth them that curse them Gen. 12.3 Fourthly He blesseth his People for mens cursing 2 Sam. 16.12 Fifthly He turneth the Curse into a Blessing Deut. 23.5 Sixthly He hath variety of Blessings Blessings of the Dew of Heaven and of the Deep Esau cryed Hast thou but one Blessing bless me also O my Father But Christ's Blessings are an Ocean never exhausted He is a Sun full of Light after so many thousand years emanation of Blessings and irradiation of the World therewith he is as full as ever He is a Fountain always flowing and ever full He hath national Blessings pardon of sin
by shall have 3. Who are meant by You ye shall have 4. What is meant by In the world 1. What is meant by Tribulation The word in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek word signifieth Tribulation Affliction trouble distress whether by loss of estate liberty c. It signifieth any sort of tribulation or affliction that is for ones casting down Mat. 24.21 1 Cor. 7.28 Acts 14.22 2ly The Syriack word is Aulzono it cometh of the root Alaz which signifieth he hath forced constrained as in Gal. 6.12 And so this word is used for Oppression Persecution And the same word is used 2 Thess 1.6 And so here as appears from the scope of Christ's discourse 2. What is meant by Shall have The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the theam is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall have being the future tense implyeth that the suffering was to come It is not you have had but shall have tribulation This you are sure and certain of And so the Syriack how e l koun there shall be to you it shall come 3. Who are meant by You doth it imply that the Apostles and they only should have tribulation in the world or are we to understand it of Christians or Christ's Disciples in general I answer This discourse is principally to the Disciples yet with relation to all Christians that will be stedfast or constant in the Christian Faith Matth. 28.19 20. And lo I am with you alwayes c. i. e. with you whilst you live and with the Ministers that shall succeed you in this work to the end of the world And so in this chapter from ver 22. to 28. is hinted that Christ will by his Spirit give comfort and a spirit of prayer and gracious answers and though the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were proper to the Apostles yet these belong to the Church in common and to Christians in all ages 2. Christ assureth his Disciples yea all that should be his Disciples hereafter as Mat. 16.24 that they should meet with the cross and so adviseth all that resolve to be his Disciples beforehand to prepare for sufferings As in Luke 14.25 to the end And so the Apostles Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 2.12 So that all that will be sincerely godly however they may now be free from yet they shall have tribulation 4. What is meant by In the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for this world in opposition to the world or life to come as John 12.25 and 2 Cor. 1.12 In the world is a limitation it is to last only whilst Christians are upon Earth it ceaseth when they leave the world 1 Pet. 1.6 Now for a season ye are in heaviness Now. And it is said of the Saints 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God c. And so the Apostle Phil. 1.23 and Rev. 21.4 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away After a Christian hath passed over this life all his Afflictions and Tribulations are over It is but in the world that is the time and date of them Again In the world you shall have It is not all the time you are in the world though sometimes the tribulations of the Faithful begin at their conversion and continue till their death yet more ordinarily they are but as storms Revel 2.10 Yet this is certain in the world Christians shall have tribulation though when and how long it is not for us to know aforehand as Christ told his Disciples Acts 1.7 The times and seasons are in God's power Secondly The Reasons why 1. Because there is an enmity in the world against Piety and Holiness ever hath been and will be and that is the ground of Persecution and of Christians Tribulation Gal. 4.29 As the world hated Christ John 15.18 19. The world as it is taken for the irregenerate 1 John 5.19 So every irregenerate man Rom. 8.7 And this is the ground of their tribulation in the world 2. In the world they have Tribulation for the tryal of their Graces As all Job's were for his tryal And indeed Hypocrites and sincere Christians cannot be discovered assunder but by persecutions and tribulations as in Rev. 2.10 and that is the reason that the Devil and wicked men may prove Liars for though God hath sufficiently confuted them yet are they ready to say as Job 1.9 10 11. Doth Job fear God for nought c. and Job 2.4 5. 3dly They are in Tribulation because they stand in need of it 1 Pet. 1.6 especially when they grow proud sensual and their hearts are lifted up as Psal 30.6 7. So when David had committed murder c. 2 Sam. 12.10 11. God keeps as it were a stricter hand over him than before 2 Sam. 24. As we say of children that correction is sometimes as necessary as food so is Tribulation for God's Children Fourthly because it is for their good As Frost and Snow is seasonable in winter profitable for the Corn killing the Weeds so is Tribulation Jer. 24.5 Like these good Figs so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the Land of the Caldeans for their good As all things shall so afflictions do work together for good Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.67 And the Faithfull should never be in Tribulation but that God aims at their good 1. To work them to humiliation and repentance as in 2 Chron. 7.13 14. Deut. 8.2 3 16. so this is God's end to break our proud spirits to work us to humiliation for sin and to a hatred forsaking of it as a main cause of all our troubtes And is not this more for our good than if we should be let alone in our sins 2. Again for the increase of patience experience hope as Rom. 5.3 4 5. And to keep us in obedience to keep us up in duty afflictions make Christians more watchful Psal 119.71 And indeed for practical Godliness the Church flourished most under the ten Persecutions and what tendeth to this is clearly for a Christians good 3. Again it is for their good to wean them from the world to draw out their desires after Heaven Nature doth encline us to love and like the world and constant prosperity doth encrease our love of it as seems to be implyed in Psal 62.10 If Riches encrease set not your hearts upon them But now tribulation weaneth our affections from the world helpeth to raise them unto things above according to our duty Col. 3.2 maketh us with the Apostle Phil. 1.23 desire to depart and to be with Christ 4. Again it for their good as it doth further their assurance and hope of Glory For a Christian may doubt of his
Communion shall receive a dissolution the dearest Friends and sweetest Relations as of Husband and Wife of Parents and Children of Ministers and People whom Nature Providence and Election like a threefold-cord hath joyned together and this strengthned with the strongest cement of true intensive love and affection shall sooner or later either by Satan's rage the malice of wicked men or the stroak of death be parted asunder Here is no certainty of long continuance in this world or of long enjoyment of any society or relation The Tabernacle made by Moses had no continued abiding but was carried up and down from place to place til it was placed in Solomons temple in the Land of Canaan God's People in Scripture are called Pilgrims and Strangers Whilst they are in this world they are in a strange Country like Abraham in Canaan and Israel in Egypt they have no continued abiding until they come to Heaven the Celestial Canaan that place of durable and uninterrupted Rest And amongst these God's Ministers have no assurance of their unchangeable residence among and ministration to their loving and beloved People A plain demonstration whereof we have in the example of Paul concerning whose many journeys from one Nation and Church to another we have abundant mention made in this History of the Acts of the Apostles And in this chapter we have mention made of four the first into Macedonia where the Jews laid wait for Paul ver 1 2 3. The second to Troas where Paul preached in the night administred the Lord's Supper and Eutichus sleeping falleth down from an high window ver 6 to 13. The third to many places to Assos Mitylene Chios Samos and Trogyllium vers 13 14. The fourth and last more famous than the rest was to Miletum ver 15. from whence he sends to Ephesus and calls together the Ministers of the Churuhes there ver 17. and when they were come together he takes his Farewel of them in which speech he first declares his former manner of life amongst them how he had discharged the duties of his Ministry with meekness and compassion with diligence and innocency with courage and resolution despising all dangers for the Gospel-sake c. In which example of his he insinuates not only to the Presbyters of Ephesus but unto all Ministers unto the end of the world how diligently they ought to watch over the Flock serving the Lord in all humility that is not to pride in their gifts abilities not to despise the wants and weaknesses of others to sympathize with the poor and afflicted to be valiant and heroically constant in preaching defending the Truth notwithstanding the many temptations and oppositions they were to meet with ver 19 20 21. Secondly he shews the condition of his life at present that he had a mighty impulse and perswasion of the Spirit upon him that bonds abide him in every City ver 22 23. and his Christian magnanimity he was not moved with any of these things nor counted his life dear unto him that he might finish his course with joy and the Ministry he had received of the Lord to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God ver 24. In the third place he prophesieth concerning the future And first what should befall himself this was the last time they should enjoy him And behold all ye among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more ver 25. And secondly what should befal them after his departure As the absence of the Shepherd invites the wild beasts to fall upon devour and scatter the Flock and as the death of the Husband invites the wicked to oppress wrong and defraud his Widow and Fatherless So the departure of Paul a vigilent and painful Shepherd a loving and tender Father opens a way and ushers in an opportunity for wicked men to enter in and play the part of Wolves and Oppressors against the Church of God For I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock c. ver 29 30. and hence exhorts them unto all diligence and care for the due performance of their Ministerial Calling Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock of God ver 28. as if he should say You must not only take heed to others but to your selves also To others you must take heed that they be not seduced with Errours and Heresies and to your selves you are to take heed that you incur not God's Displeasure and Rod for a neglect or ill performance of your duty And this he presseth with divers Arguments first from their Name and Office they were Bishops and Overseers over the Flock Secondly from the great Appointer and Designer of them unto this Office the Holy Ghost Thirdly from the end of their appointment and call to this Office to feed the Flock Fourthly from the Owner of the Flock God himself Fifthly from the great Price paid to redeem and purchase this Flock which was neither Silver nor Gold these were poor and mean things but Blood not the blood of a mean-man nor of a nobleman nor yet of a King but the Blood of God! Take heed therefore to your selves and all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath redeemed and purchased with his own Blood Sixthly from the consideration of the Churches enemies that should arise after his departure which were either foreign or domestick Foreign were the Jews or Gentiles not yet converted to the Christian Religion Such as these he means in ver 29. Their domestick enemies were such as were brought up by the Ministers of the Gospel but by ambition covetousness and ignorance should apostatize and fall into erroneous and heretical doctrines superstitious opinions calling themselves Apostles but are not mixing Christ and Moses together asserting the doctrine of the Nicholaitans Such as these he means in ver 30. Men of your own selves shall arise speaking perverse things and shall draw away Disciples after them And these Enemies in respect of their nature are called Wolves and that in respect of certain resemblances what Wolves are unto the Flock the same are Persecutors and Seducers to the Church of God These by Persecution would be grievous and intolerable these by the Errours and Heresies would be contagious and infecting And after these motives renews his former Exhortation that they would remember and watch ver 31. As if he should say Seeing Christ hath redeemed his Church by his Blood and I by my great labours have builded up a Church among you and seeing you are appointed by the holy Ghost to be Overseers to the Flock to feed it and seeing after my departure grievous Wolves shall arise to destroy the Flock some by open hostility and persecution some by errours and infection be so much the more vigilant and industrious to save and preserve them and your selves Let not Christ's Blood
People This I shewed you before and applied it Now in the last place and my last opportunity I come to the Grand Cure and Sovereign Remedy for the above named Maladies God and the Word of his Grace The Doctrine is this That God and the Word of his Grace are the best Security and Comfort a departing Minister can commend his People unto The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath divers significations in the New Testament but in this place and some others it properly signifies Fidei alicutus depositum servandam trado committo we commit something to the care and fidelity of another for security and preservation Thus our blessed Saviour when he dyed on the Cross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit Luke 23.46 And the Apostle Peter exhorting the Christians not to be dispondeâ— and dejected under the Sufferings they met with for Christ's sake but in the midst of their sufferings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls unto him as to a Faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Thus the Apostle commits these Ephesian Ministers and all the Christians in Ephesus their souls their bodies and all the affairs and concernments of that Church both under Persecution and in the midst of contagious Heresies and Doctrines to the defence and protection of God and to the direction light and preservation of his holy Word So that if you please to give a name to my Text let it be this The departing Pastor's Security and Comfort for his left People c. When the Father of a family lies upon his death-bed and ready to take his ultimum vale of the world commends his Wife and Children to the care counsel and direction to the defence and protection of his most trusly faithful and assured Friends saying I am now going the way of all flesh and my deare Wife will become a discousolate Widow and my tender Children will be fatherless and I shall no more return to perform the duties of an Husband and Father to them no more to counsel and direct them no more to manage and order their affairs for them No more to provide for and maintain them no more to succour and comfort them No more to defend them from injuries and oppressions No more to right them in their wrongs And therefore I leave and commend them to you to be as a Husband to my Widow and a Father to my Fatherless I leave them to your love to pity them I commend them to your wisdome and prudence to counsel and direct them To your care and faithfulness to manage their affairs for them I commend them to your justice to right them in wrongs and defend them from injuries Even thus this blessed Apostle going to Jerusalem these Ephesians should see his face no more No more he should fight with beasts after the manner of men at Ephesus He should confute the Erroneous and Hereticks no more No more should he be with them to appease their dissentions reconcile their divisions he should maintain the Doctrine of Free-Grace the purity and simplicity of Gospel-Worship no more No more to vindicate the Resurrection of the dead No more to perform amongst them the duties of a vigilent Watch-man and faithful Minister to rebuke the Obstinate and such as walk disorderly to comfort the Mourners to strengthen the Weak to reduce the Wanderer to raise and recover them that are fallen And therefore seeing I shall be no more with you to do any of these things for you I leave and commend you to God and the Word of his Grace the best security from and comfort under both Persecution and infectious and seducing Doctrine He is a Watchman and Shepherd instead of all Shepherds and Watchmen He is a Teacher instead of all Teachers And for a people to be left with such Guardians when their Minister must depart from them is good security and comfort for them And this I shall shew first in respect of God 2dly in regard of his Word First To commit you to God is to commit you to him who is furnished with every thing necessary for Security and Comfort 1. It is to commit you to the greatest Love And Love is a strong Security To be committed to the defence of an enemy that hates us with deadly hatred there can be no comfort no security but a fearful and trembling expectation that our defence should prove our destruction But Love addeth strength and security to mud-walls when hatred makes stone-walls full of danger Hatred seeks the destruction of the object hated when Love seeks the welfare and protection of the object beloved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Birds build their nests on high in close obscure places and spare their own crâ—ws to secure and fill their young ones The most timerous creatures grow most resolute and expose themselves to danger and death in combating to preserve their young ones and all from that storgie and affection Nature hath implanted in them What will not Parents do and venture to preserve their tender babes in danger they 'l venture upon pikes and swords upon wild beasts they 'l venture through fire and water to save them And if there be such love in the creature surely there is much more in the Creator their greatest plenitude is but a drop to his immeasurable Ocean Love in the creature is a concrete finite and imperfect but in God it is an abstract infinite and Perfection it self God saith John is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 and this Love of God to his People is an all-conquering Love this stirrs up God to stand as a skreen between his People and danger and primum mobile of their protection What is the reason that all the policies and power of infernal spirits all the stratagems of the Devil's Agents all the black cursings and bloody execrations of ungodly men all the Popish Fulminations and thundrings of Anathema's against God's People take no more effect what is the reason that there is no Inchantment against Jacob nor Divination against Israel It is God's Love that shields off all Balaam you know following the wages of unrighteousness attempted to have cursed Israel but this Love of God opposed it and turned the Curse into a Blessing Deut. 23.5 The Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam but the Lord thy God turned the Curse into a Blessing because he loved thee Hence it is God opposeth the opposers of his People and destroyeth their destroyers saying Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm The most glorious Potentates prosperous Kingdoms have become contemptible and heaps of ruine for their opposing oppressing and persecuting God's Church God's Love puts an higher estimate upon the poorest Saint than upon all the Sinful though sceptred crowned adorned and adored Monarchs of the world Why did he smite the first-born in Egypt both of man and beast why did he send his